council tax & bailiffs

[conncat]

Hi can anyone give me some advice please.
We owed money on our council tax, phoned the local council, who said it had been sent to the bailiff, we called the bailiffs straight away who said they would set up a payment plan and would send a payment book which we did not receive, we paid the ist installment anyway, then we started receiving letters from the bailiffs saying we hadn't been in touch & they would visit us to remove our goods which would incur further costs.
We imediately called the bailiffs again & they said they wouldn't discuss it as it was with the bailiff in charge whowe then called, he said they wanted the full amount, my husband tried to make his installment payment and this was refused, they then said we had an outstanding debt fom 2003, which was a surprise to us. So they are asking for £3000.
I called the debtline they advise calling the council which I did.
The council said they have negotiated with the bailiff a repayment of £300 per mnth to be paid to the bailiff.
We cannot afford this.
Our original repayment was £153
Do we go back to the council stating we can't afford this ??
Also why are they asking for £1500 for council tax in 2003 when it was £1000 and I know some payment was made.
The bailiffs are EQUITA
They have never entered the house

Sorry its so long
Has anyone got any advice as what to do next
Thankyou

[kydcarmen]

I to have had problems with council tax and baliffs. If they haven't entered the house they cannot take anything and don't ever let them in. What i did was visit the CAB asap and they called the baliffs to come to an arrangement. You can ask for the CAB to do an expenditure form for you which you will need to send off to the baliffs anyway. My arrangement was declined at first and then i told them that i was not willing to pay anymore and they accepted it due to the fact that I had taken advice from the CAB.

[conncat]

Thanks I will try CAB
thanks

[kydcarmen]

I hoped that helped, hope it works out ok, keep us posted on how it goes.

Good luck

Conncat, PM me your telephone number and I will give you a call.

[sherysmmns]

Hi

Just wondering as my partner is in the same position as you, did you manage to negotiate a new arrangement.
Is it true that the balliffs cannot under any circumstances enter your home unless you invite them in, he was told that they would need to come to the house to gain "peaceful entry"

warm regards

[bryanke]

The entry of the property has to be what is called peaceful but it is incorrect that bailiffs have to be invited in to the house. They may enter through an open door or window and may even push down a handle on a door to find out if it is unlocked. There are also the external assets of the property which can be removed and the contents of any out buildings or shed's. In certain circumstances the bailiffs have the right to remove the actual shed. As a bailiff that pride's himself in acting within the law it is far better to have the knowledge of the law than to resort to bully and intimidation tactics.
Hope this gives you the information you need.

[lesser1010]

see the thread bailiff help please.it should be all you need.